2025 OFFICIAL MEAT POLE THREAD

[thegoosano]

Finally had success after 5yrs of grinding trying to get a high country buck with my bow!

I got into the area 3 full days before the season opened, about 12mi hike in to this remote spot. I had hunted the same basins 2yrs ago in 2023 and saw some monsters so I had a good feeling they would be back.

I spotted this buck 1.5 days before opening morning and watched him and 2 other good bucks to pattern them. He was the tallest buck by far with the most mass and matching kickers off his G2s. Opening morning came and I watched him bed on the far edge of the basin around 9am. He was with the other bucks and some does so there were some eyes to watch out for.

I decided his position was good enough that I wanted to make a move. I always get nervous making a big play too soon in the hunt at the risk of blowing out the basin for days, but I decided to roll the dice.

After a 1.5mi-2mi stalk hiking up and around the jagged ridge above the basin, I came out behind a rock bluff, leaning out to see him about 190yds below. There was one buck with him but, but shortly after getting to the bluff he got up and casually fed off into some willows out of sight. I took off my pack & boots, slipped on a homemade pair of stalking shoes, grabbed my bow and headed in.

After a slow careful stalk with fortunately good footing, I was about to get to some small boulders and trees 49yds from him, still bedded down. I nicked an arrow, clipped on my release, and waited for him to stand up.

While waiting I decided to remove my tight spot quiver to prevent any wind shake. A slight squeak of the dovetail attachment made the buck stand up. I quickly pulled off the quiver, drew my bow while laying down on my back, and stood up at full draw. Putting the 50yd pin square in his vitals I let an arrow go, shortly followed by the assuring sound of a “thwack”. He stumbled down about 75yds to some willows, where I was able to sneak on a bit more and get two more arrows in.

5yrs of training, research, prep, practice, and obsessing over high country mule deer I never imagined I would be able to get a deer like this. Beyond grateful for all the experiences that have led up to this point and all the hard work. Still pinching myself. 189” gross!!

Shameless plug, I posted one of these over on the mule deer photo contest thread, if you like it give it a thumbs up!

2025 Best Mule Deer Hunt Photo Contest, sponsored by Kryptek
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...-Kryptek.414318/&share_type=t&link_source=app

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[mattflicek]

Well done!

 

[thegoosano]

Thank you!


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[Gpw]

What’s up with all the squirrels? This is a mule deer meat pole thread

 

[Idahohillboy]

2025 high country muleu

 

[chasewild]

189” gross!!

Nice buck though.

 

[thegoosano]

Nice buck though.

He had 5” of kickers that broke off (but found) and the taxidermist will be fixing, but I do need to retape him, the tape I used wasn’t the best and I’m no professional taper . So this is a very rough # till I get him back

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[chasewild]

He had 5” of kickers that broke off (but found) and the taxidermist will be fixing, but I do need to retape him, the tape I used wasn’t the best and I’m no professional taper . So this is a very rough # till I get him back

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Like I said, damn nice buck. Love the stickers.

 

[ThreeOhSeven]

Another successful WY rifle opener!
Camped in a pretty gnarly storm at 9000ft, had everything from rain and fog to sleet then snow at sunrise. Chased a small bachelor group early in the morning, decided to pass on the two shooters. Was making my way back towards camp when I glassed up a pair of bucks in the next bowl over. Luckily for me, the weather kept the deer feeding out late and I got to punch my tag on this beautiful typical.

 

[Austin Kaufman]

Nebraska archery buck


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[deserthunter2016]

Wyoming


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[Idahohillboy]

Left the baby with grandma, and my wife hesitantly obliged me in taking a hunting trip for my archery mule deer tag ON OUR ANNIVERSARY(my wife is a damn trooper) I made a deal with her that if I harvested my first mule deer with her, then I wouldn’t hunt without her (I’ll regret that later)

I have been hunting for 4 years, just about every weekend after the opener, put in anywhere from 30-40 miles every season for elk and deer hunting. Every weekend I hunt, no success. Had opportunities with elk and deer walking out in front of me at 30-50 yds but they’ve always caught me with my pants down. (One time literally!) haha

First day, we hiked 7 miles round trip, from 9000’ elevation to 10350’ to glass. Saw absolutely nothing but moo cows. Nothing gets my blood boiling more when I see a body moving through the timber and get behind my spotter and it’s a dang McDonald’s cheese burger with legs lol. The highlight of that first day was sitting on the mountain, enjoying some fig bars with my wife. We saw some beautiful ruffed grouse walking right next to our glass spot. Shortly after, I start scanning the tops of the mountains as the clouds pass by, watching the shadows swallow the mountains behind. When all of a sudden I spot a herd of about 15 mountain goat very far away. It was so cool to watch them feed up the mountain, disappearing against the back of the mountain as the clouds pass by. For something being so white, it blows my mind how they blend in so well.

Walked back down the mountain to camp and saw no deer or deer sign. We packed up to drive to another drainage. We e scouted a few different options and I ended up just allowing my wife to pick the spot. I wasn’t sure about it and wanted to go somewhere completely different but ultimately let my wife choose. We had a great place to set the tent up and decided to take it easy during the heat of the day and go out for the evening.

We walked up the trail about 1 mile and then walked off trail to a saddle another .5 mile. Looked up on a meadow about 400 vertical feet up and about 500 yards away and spotted a nice buck with 2 does with him. Looked at my wife with the biggest smile, she looked at me with an even bigger smile and her eyes lit up with excitement. We wanted to make a play on the deer up top, so we went into some thick timber for cover and talked strategy. About that time, a couple of good sized bachelor bucks busted out of the timber 100 yds away from us and our wind went right to them. They locked eyes with us and just calmly walked into a burn scar on our left. We were so discouraged. We looked at each other and both said “damn” At the same time.

We decided not to persue the buck up high and see where those other two deer went. We start walking through the thick timbered burn scar being as quiet as we can. About a half mile in, we decided to start heading back to camp as we didn’t have hardly any light left.

All of a sudden my wife whispers my name, followed by the words “2 bucks” (MY LUCKY CHARM!)

I slowly look to my left and two good size bucks at 90 yds (a 3 point and a very tall and unique 2 point). I would have been ecstatic about either so I decided to make a stalk on them to get into a more comfortable shooting range. It felt like forever as I slowly crept from tree to tree. I nocked an arrow behind a large tree and peeked my head out to range him. 49 yds! (Me getting 49 yds away from my first mule deer, with a tag in my pocket and my wife on my tail would have been a success to me!) I stepped out from the tree and came to full draw, took about 3 seconds to find the deer looking through my peep sight, as the light was starting to fade.(I was still within legal shooting hours)

Put my pin right on the crease, and let it fly.

Thumped him.

Took off like a bat out of hell and dropped before he hit 20 yds.

I looked back at my wife with her mouth open, and goosebumps on her skin and a tear in her eye. I have never seen her light up with excitement as much as I did that evening. She was so happy and seeing her like that will not compare to any joy I experienced before her.

We would have given him more time but we heard a good crash and thrashing so figured it would be okay to go look for blood. We didn’t find him that night, as it was dark and it started to pie the rain and lightning all around us. I hung my head and we walked back to camp. I was positive my shot was perfect but that night could not pass fast enough. We ended the night with some freeze dried meals and a few games of Yahtzee in the tent to distract myself from possibly wounding a deer and not being about to find it. Sleep was not my friend that night lol.

Next morning we woke up at first light with game bags, kill kit and tag in hand. Walked up to the spot I shot from and he was laying not 20 yards from where I shot him. Got all the meat and nothing went to waste as it stayed very cold that night.



Ate backstrap and made some birria tacos with a hind quarter that weekend and it was great to reminisce with my wife with each bite. Even gave my 10 month old son some.

Not the biggest buck but it’s ours so I’m more than happy.

Thank you for reading and sorry for the long post.

Will be one of my most fond memories forever.

Great buck but just not seeing how this thing scores 189 did you tape the outside spread? Not trolling just curious. Maybe mass carried you?

Nice buck though

Wrong post I replied to. Dif buck on this thread.

 

[Idahohillboy]

Finally had success after 5yrs of grinding trying to get a high country buck with my bow!

I got into the area 3 full days before the season opened, about 12mi hike in to this remote spot. I had hunted the same basins 2yrs ago in 2023 and saw some monsters so I had a good feeling they would be back.

I spotted this buck 1.5 days before opening morning and watched him and 2 other good bucks to pattern them. He was the tallest buck by far with the most mass and matching kickers off his G2s. Opening morning came and I watched him bed on the far edge of the basin around 9am. He was with the other bucks and some does so there were some eyes to watch out for.

I decided his position was good enough that I wanted to make a move. I always get nervous making a big play too soon in the hunt at the risk of blowing out the basin for days, but I decided to roll the dice.

After a 1.5mi-2mi stalk hiking up and around the jagged ridge above the basin, I came out behind a rock bluff, leaning out to see him about 190yds below. There was one buck with him but, but shortly after getting to the bluff he got up and casually fed off into some willows out of sight. I took off my pack & boots, slipped on a homemade pair of stalking shoes, grabbed my bow and headed in.

After a slow careful stalk with fortunately good footing, I was about to get to some small boulders and trees 49yds from him, still bedded down. I nicked an arrow, clipped on my release, and waited for him to stand up.

While waiting I decided to remove my tight spot quiver to prevent any wind shake. A slight squeak of the dovetail attachment made the buck stand up. I quickly pulled off the quiver, drew my bow while laying down on my back, and stood up at full draw. Putting the 50yd pin square in his vitals I let an arrow go, shortly followed by the assuring sound of a “thwack”. He stumbled down about 75yds to some willows, where I was able to sneak on a bit more and get two more arrows in.

5yrs of training, research, prep, practice, and obsessing over high country mule deer I never imagined I would be able to get a deer like this. Beyond grateful for all the experiences that have led up to this point and all the hard work. Still pinching myself. 189” gross!!

Shameless plug, I posted one of these over on the mule deer photo contest thread, if you like it give it a thumbs up!

2025 Best Mule Deer Hunt Photo Contest, sponsored by Kryptek
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?share_fid=45046&share_tid=414318&url=https://www.rokslide.com/forums/index.php?threads/2025-Best-Mule-Deer-Hunt-Photo-Contest,-sponsored-by-Kryptek.414318/&share_type=t&link_source=app

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Great buck but just not seeing how this thing scores 189 did you tape the outside spread and add it in there? Not trolling just curious. Maybe mass carried you? Confused it does forks eye gaurds or frame for it?

 

[thegoosano]

[mention]Idahohillboy [/mention]no worries man! The score surprised me too. Was expecting 175. Here is that rough score sheet for all the deets

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[chasewild]

I love this thread. Every year.

 

[Idahohillboy]

[mention]Idahohillboy [/mention]no worries man! The score surprised me too. Was expecting 175. Here is that rough score sheet for all the deets

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I stand corrected his fronts were bigger than they looked sorry for questioning you. I posted once a bull and got blasted. Lol great buck either way congrats heavy deer

 

[WyoWild]

Nebraska archery buck


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Way to go... Sweet buck